Developer

Owner, Medical Office Building

Area

Photographs

Prior to the completion of the new St. Anthony Hospital, the South Sound Region represented one of the largest population centers in the State of Washington without a central community hospital. As a result more than 3,500 emergencies and 4,000 patients requiring overnight care had to travel well outside of the area for treatment annually. The 112-bed SF full service hospital in Gig Harbor—the city’s first—provides all the critical healthcare services needed to support this growing region in a patient centered environment. The design celebrates the local community’s Native American and maritime history, rich natural landscape, and emphasizes the connection between nature, health, and well-being.

Gig Harbor is one of the few places on the west coast where the forest truly meets the sea, its regional culture boasts a rich history set against a backdrop of wooded forests, panoramic landscapes, and views to the water. The design of the hospital celebrates and weaves these unique attributes together to create an experience reflective of the community—including wood carvings made from naturally fallen trees on the Peninsula; terrazzo floors designed to imitate water lapping against a shoreline, and inclusion of a water feature within the healing garden that uses recycled water.

The natural beauty of the thick, wooded forests surrounding the hospital site, and the connection between nature and a patient’s journey from sickness back to health, became key themes in development of design. Borrowing inspiration from Robert Frost’s classic poem ‘A Road Not Taken,’ the team identified characteristics and experiences that define ‘a walk in the woods’. Exploration, silent reflection, moments of pause, and visual connectivity between interior and exterior landscapes emerged as strong design concepts.

When applied to the design of the hospital’s interior and exterior, terms such as ‘clearing,’ ‘glade,’ and ‘filtering of light’ emerged and informed functional relationships, space planning, views, material selection, lighting design and room layout. The building itself is nestled amongst the trees and includes a central healing garden visible from all main public spaces. Additional view gardens are tucked around the building perimeter, providing glimpses of nature from every possible angle

Reflecting the faith-based mission of the client, a 600 SF chapel is a significant element of the hospital. Visible from the main entrance, the chapel is designed as a space of tranquility, available for contemplation and prayer for people of all faiths and denominations.

The simply shaped chapel is surrounded by a shallow pool of water to reference nature’s healing power. A focal concrete wall in the middle of the pool establishes a strong sense of presence and grounding. A glass wall overlooking the water is flanked by vertical wooden louvers suspended at different angles from stainless steel pins to emulate fins on a boat.

Inside, a wood-paneled wall with exposed metal fasteners similar to those used in boat construction echoes the wood paneling on the hospital’s exterior. The choice of materials such as polished concrete flooring and wood clad walls create a simple, tranquil space.

LANDSCAPE

The design team worked closely with the landscape designer to ensure a seamless relationship between the natural and built environments. Consequently, the landscape is organized into three zones on the hospital campus: the Woodland Zone (primarily forested), Riparian Zone (primarily wetlands) and the Hospital Zone (including a variety of landscaped plazas, courtyards and gardens). These zones are weaved together to create the impression of a hospital campus delicately carved into the forest.

Natural elements that are encountered during a ‘walk in the woods’ are incorporated into the landscape such as raw logs, stones, water and native conifer trees and plantings. Wood is further used as an architectural element in outdoor benches and decking in the central healing garden to provide a restorative and contemplative atmosphere for patients, visitors and staff. Walking paths and private seating provide areas for private reflection or confidential conversations in the beauty of nature.

OVERALL SUSTAINABILITY

The hospital was designed according to LEED and Green Guide for Healthcare guidelines in order to achieve a healthy and high performance healing environment. Sustainable features include: